The best places to stay in England

As the largest country in the UK, England is choc-full of exciting havens and hotspots. But with so much choice, you may ask yourself, where are the best places to stay in England? Luckily, we’ve broken Blighty up into five regions to make your decision-making process a little simpler.

These areas, ranging from the South Coast all the way up to the North of England, are not only beloved holiday stopping points in the Land of the Rose, but they are among the best places to stay in the whole of the UK.

Keep reading to find out why staycations in England are as popular as ever or click the button below to discover your own private getaway to use as a base camp for exploring our cherished country.

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• South Coast
• South West
• East of England
• Heart of England
• North of England

South Coast: best for a sunny staycation

Spanning 300 miles, the South Coast of England has some of the sunniest spots in all of the UK. Holidays in Hove, escapades in Eastbourne and celebrations in Camber Sands all come with a good chance of a dose of sunshine, and that’s not even mentioning the sunny sanctuary of the Isle of Wight.

Starting with isles (and cheeky peninsulas masquerading as islands), the isles of Wight and Purbeck offer some of the prettiest scenes in the country. Both have spectacular beaches and famous rock formations (The Needles on the Isle of Wight and Old Harry Rocks on the Isle of Purbeck) and whilst you’re exploring the wildflower-filled chalk grasslands of Purbeck, you must stop off for a while at Corfe Castle or the seaside village of Swanage.

Another seaside destination is the Victorian town of Eastbourne, home to Beachy Head, where you’ll find the highest chalk sea cliffs in the UK. Eastbourne is also the gateway to the South Downs National Park where you’ll find walks, beaches and pubs galore. If cliffs are your thing, you can’t come to the South Coast without visiting the White Cliffs of Dover and having a little singsong. Stretch your legs along the coastal path or explore Fan Bay Deep Shelter, a tunnel system used in World War II.

If you want to scratch a retail itch but don’t want to move too far from the sea, the city of Brighton has two great shopping areas. The Lanes are full of jewellery and boutique shops whilst North Laine has bohemian cafes and vintage stores. For a little serenity and history, make the journey to Rye for its cobbled streets and medieval buildings – you could even stop for a drink in the Mermaid Inn, one of the oldest pubs in England.

Check out our guide for more great places to stay on the South Coast.

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South West: best for world-class beaches

If there’s one thing the South West knows how to do, it’s beaches. The sand (and occasionally pebble) beaches found in this part of England are often the envy of the rest of the world, but that’s not to say it’s a one-trick pony; the South West has history, charm and tantalising landscapes oozing from every pore.

As we’re starting with Devon and Cornwall though, it would be remiss of us not to mention the beaches. North Devon is home to the UK’s first World Surfing Reserve which incorporates renowned beaches like Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton. Cornwall, too, has popular surfing beaches like Fistral in Newquay, but also lesser-known gems like Kynance Cove and Crantock Beach. Devon boasts two spellbinding national parks in Exmoor and Dartmoor, whilst Cornwall offers up the magic of the Minack Theatre and the edge-of-the-world feel of the Lizard Peninsula.

Dorset is home to the Jurassic Coast, a 96-mile expanse of coastline that even takes in a smidge of East Devon. It’s here that you’ll find homages to Mary Anning and plenty of opportunities for budding palaeontologists to search for ammonites and belemnite fossils. Head to the beaches of Charmouth and Lyme Regis to find your relics; some of the fossils at Lyme Regis are so large that they are a permanent fixture, so you won’t be left disappointed, even if you don’t get to take any home as souvenirs. Take a look at our full guide to the Jurassic Coast and discover even more things to do. Other places of interest include beautiful Lulworth Cove and the icon limestone arch of Durdle Door.

That’s not to say that the South West’s only meritable feature is its coastline. There’s plenty of beauty to be found inland, with the Cotswolds being the area that most often springs to mind. Covering almost 800 square miles and incorporating parts of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Somerset, the Cotswolds boasts some of the prettiest villages in England along with photographic hotspots that’ll have you reaching for your smartphone. The honey-hued stone and thatched roofs of Upper and Lower Slaughter and the waterways of Bourton-on-the-Water, the Venice of the Cotswolds, will have you returning again and again.

Take a look at our guide for more great places to stay in the South West.

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East of England: best for royal estates and meandering waterways

Do you love the royals, or are you enthralled by historical architecture? Perhaps you just dream of living your life in a period drama, existing in your very own Downton Abbey. Well, the East of England is the place to visit if any of this is true. Alongside these wonders are the famous manmade waterways, the Norfolk Broads, created by peat digging in the 12^th century. This expansive network of rivers and canals criss-crosses large wetland areas full of wildlife, some of which can also be found along the coastline that arcs from Lincolnshire and Norfolk in the north, past Suffolk and down towards Essex and Kent.

Norfolk is the perfect mix of traditional fishing villages, seaside resorts and historic market towns. Visit Hunstanton to experience the only spectacular sunset available in the East of England as it sets over the Wash, and then move south to revel in the delights of Sandringham Estate where the royals spend their Christmases. Further captivating stately homes worth seeing include Felbrigg Hall, Holkham Hall and Blickling Hall. We also have to expand on the Norfolk Broads, a national park comprising 125 miles of lock-free waterways where you can canoe, stand-up paddleboard or hire a boat to visit picturesque villages and marvel at the astonishing flora and fauna.

When the Angles settled in the area in the 5^th century, it was the northern folk who established themselves in Norfolk. It makes sense that the southern folk blossomed in the more southerly county of Suffolk. Many centuries later, the names stuck and Suffolk has flourished as a county full of gorgeous coastal towns including Southwold, Aldeburgh, Walberswick and Lowestoft (the most easterly settlement in the UK). The arts have played a sizable role in Suffolk’s recent history with Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable, two of England’s most well-known painters, once calling the county home. In fact, the Stour Valley is known as Constable Country. Not forgetting music, one of the 20th century's foremost composers, Benjamin Britten, was born in Lowestoft and spent most of his life in Aldeburgh, where he set up a music festival that still takes place today.

North of these two counties is Lincolnshire, home of the cathedral city of Lincoln. Lincoln Cathedral was once the tallest building in the world and, in fact, took this mantle from the Great Pyramid of Giza in 1311, after the pyramid had held this honour for 3,800 years. Further south and just east of London is Essex. A county made famous by reality TV, the truth is that Essex has an abundance of natural beauty with a 350-mile-long coastline and pockets of ancient woodland such as Epping Forest. Visit the historical gems of Colchester Castle, Hedingham Castle and Audley End House or sample a taste of the exuberant nightlife on offer.

Browse our guide for more great places to stay in the East of England.

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Heart of England: best for captivating countryside

The Heart of England comprises some of the greenest counties in England with resplendent countryside stretching from the sweeping plateaus of the Shropshire Hills to the moorlands and wooded valleys of the Peak District. This may be surprising when you account for the fact that the Industrial Revolution began in the Heart of England in Derbyshire, a county that, somewhat aptly, is shaped like a heart. From this point on, metropolitan cities such as Birmingham grew, whilst medieval metropolises like Oxford retained much of their olde-worlde charm.

The Peak District and Derbyshire have enough attractions and places of interest to last you half a lifetime, whether that’s below ground exploring the tunnels of Peak Cavern, Treak Cliff Cavern and Poole’s Cavern, or out in the fresh air of Mam Tor, Kinder Scout and Stanage Edge. If you want to get out on two wheels, the Monsal Trail offers plenty of diverse cycling routes, and if you do like to be beside some water, Derwent Reservoir and Ladybower Reservoir offer truly spellbinding views. Travel high above a deep limestone gorge in a cable car at the Heights of Abraham or get historical at Haddon Hall and Chatsworth House, the latter being the filming location for Pride and Prejudice.

Herefordshire is a heady mix of culture and countryside. From Tudor and Jacobean manor houses to medieval castles, there’s plenty for inquisitive souls. And if you really want something to fill you full of awe, head to Hereford Cathedral to gaze upon the Mappa Mundi, the largest medieval map still in existence. When it comes to scenery, the Malvern Hills duly oblige, offering up unique beauty and natural spring water that trickles through the granite and limestone rocks. Nearby Shropshire has UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the world’s oldest working cast-iron bridge. Explore the Shropshire Hills for special landscapes or get snap-happy at the Shropshire Petal Fields and discover acres of colourful British-grown flowers.

Warwickshire certainly ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to historical contributions. The town of Warwick, with its timber-framed houses that overhang the street, will have you believing you’re back in the Middle Ages, whilst the castle here does its best to bring history to life with live jousting shows and the UK’s largest bird of prey exhibition. And we can’t mention Warwickshire without touching upon Stratford-upon-Avon, home to the Bard himself, William Shakespeare. Walk the streets that were home to one of England’s favourite sons and allow the Royal Shakespeare Company to dazzle you with the latest version of one of the Bard’s classics.

Have a look at this splendid guide for more great places to stay in the Heart of England.

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North of England: best for lakeside strolls and historical significance

The North of England is vast, bridging huge distances from Lancashire just above North Wales all the way to Northumberland on the border of Scotland. Full of history, excitement and, as we’ve come to expect with England, outstanding landscapes and seascapes, the North of England extends a hand and invites you to experience delights such as Hadrian’s Wall, the Lake District, Lindisfarne Holy Island and the North York Moors.

Beginning with one of the most popular destinations in the region, the Lake District, which takes up about a third of the county of Cumbria, welcomes nearly 20 million visitors every year. This is hardly surprising, seeing as this UNESCO-protected national park is punctuated with numerous picturesque lakes which are proximal to some of the most charming towns and villages in the country. Add to this the rise of the Cumbrian foodie scene, with many restaurants picking up Michelin stars, and you have yourself a very enticing holiday destination. Visit Derwentwater and Windermere for two of the best lakes in the national park, Scafell Pike for England’s highest mountain, Aira Force for a spectacular waterfall, and Hill Top for the home of our beloved Beatrix Potter.

Split into three geographical areas, Yorkshire is the largest county in England and comprises most of the two national parks, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. These national parks seamlessly combine crashing waterfalls, Dark Sky Reserves, imposing mountain summits and windswept valleys and moors to great effect – you’ll need to put aside a good amount of time to see it all. Take a look at our full guide on the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors guide for even more inspiration. The Yorkshire coast is just as remarkable with unspoilt coastline dotted with colourful fishing villages and award-winning beaches. The historic spa town of Scarborough has plenty to see and do with historic landmarks, outdoor adventures and a traditional seaside resort feel, whilst Whitby has its Gothic abbey and literary links to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Filey, Runswick Bay, Robin Hood’s Bay, Staithes and Saltburn-by-the-Sea are just a handful of the many other coastal hotspots on offer.

As the northernmost county in England, some feel that Northumberland often gets overlooked in favour of its more southerly neighbours. But there’s really no logic in that when you consider the variety of topography and historical landmarks within its boundaries. Behold Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick Castle, both leading filming locations (The Last Kingdom and Harry Potter respectively), with Bamburgh overlooking a sweeping beach and Alnwick boasting parklands landscaped by Capability Brown. Hadrian’s Wall and Corbridge will give you a true taste of life during the Roman era, and if you fancy getting out on the water, visit the Holy Island of Lisdisfarne or spot seals and puffins on the Farne Islands.

Take a look at more great places to stay in the North of England.

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Self-catering holiday cottages across England

This blog showcases but a mere snippet of the value England offers in terms of absorbing landscapes, influential historical milestones and magnetic towns and villages. Take your time browsing through our collection of self-catering holiday cottages (as there are quite a few) and find your next English vacation destination.

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